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BONE AND JOINT DECADE 2000 - 2010
To Keep People Moving

Key Goals

  • Raise awareness of the growing burden of musculo-skeletal disorders on society.
  • Promote prevention of musculoskeletal disorders and empower patients through educational campaigns
  • Advance research in prevention, diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal disorders.
  • Improve diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal disorders.

    • The IOF
    International Osteoporosis Foundation

    Specific Goals of IOF

  • 100 countries as active participants in the Bone & Joint Decade by 2002
  • Establish public and patient education programs in all participating countries through partner organisations
  • Triple existing national research council funding during this Decade
  • Medical schools to include at least 6 months of training on musculoskeletal disorders, to improve GP diagnostic skills and accurate referrals, and institute similar programs for other medical groups
  • 25% reduction in expected increase in osteoporotic fractures
  • 25% reduction in expected increase in joint destruction due to joint disease
  • 25% reduction in expected increase in severely injured people
  • 25% reduction in expected increase in indirect costs for spinal disorders

    • IOF News
    'Bone Alert' Vol.8:1 Feb 2001
    P.O.Box 21 021 Edgeware Christchurch, N.Z.

    IOF is honoured to have Queen Rania of Jordan as its Patron.
    Her Majesty's influence will be of great benefit in generating public awareness of osteoporosis and raising funds for much needed research.

    IOF Welcomes New Member Societies
    This year 2000 saw a great increase in the IOF family - now numbering 98 societies from 57 countries.
    IOF welcomes the Moroccan Society for Rheumatology and Osteoporosis New Zealand Inc., two new member societies approved by the Committee of National Societies at a recent IOF meeting in Brussels.
    We are also pleased to announce that Donna Mobile, Switzerland, and the Irish Osteoporosis Society, previously associate members, have now been accepted as full members.

    HIP FRACTURES
    It is routinely accepted that the risk of hip fracture can be reduced by the prevention of bone loss or the increase of bone mass, but this improvement in bone strength cannot prevent falls and subsequent trauma to the hip.
    Experimental studies in Germany have shown that soft tissue covering the hip may influence energy absorption during a fall, reducing the risk of hip fracture.
    Hip protectors have recently been introduced to prevent hip fractures and results from two studies in nursing homes show that use of hip protectors reduced the annual rate of hip fracture by 50%.
    Despite their relatively low cost ($US59), German health insurance companies do not reimburse for hip protection. However, on comparing the current health care cost of $US44,000 per hip fracture to $US177.00 for 3 pairs of hip protectors, it would appear that they are remarkably cost effective.


    If you would like to support Osteoporosis New Zealand Inc by way of donation, or receive their newsletter, please write to

    Osteoporosis New Zealand Inc.,
    P.O.Box 688, Wellington.
    We thank the Osteoporosis Society (Canterbury) Inc. and specifically the editors: Rachel March and Maree Greenslade for the above contributions taken from their newsletter: 'Bone Alert.'

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